Improvement in machines for breaking hemp and flax and reducing the length of the



J. S. TREAT & S. RANDALL.

HEMP AND FLAX BRAKE.

No. 8,360. PatentedSept. 16, 1851.

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UNITED "STATES PATENT .OFFICE.

JAMES S. TREAT AND STEPH. RANDALLOF VOLUNTOWN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR BREAKING HEMP AND FLAX AND FIEDUClNG THE LENGTH OF THE FIBERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 5,360., dated September 16, 1851.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, .LiMEs S. TREAT and STEPHEN RANDALL, of Voluntown, Windham county, Connecticut, have invented a new and useful mode of reducing flax and other fibrous substances to suitable length to be used on cotton, woolen, and other machinery; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and letters marked thereon, forming a part of this specification.

The nature of our invention consists in anentirely new method of reducing flax, either in the straw or otherwise, to suitable length of staple, separating the woody substance from the fibers by one operation, which we accomplish by means of a series of grooved or otherwise graduated rollers, so arranged and geared, decreasing in size and varying in speed, as to separate the fibers and prepare them for the carding and spinning machinery, whether the machinery be constructed as hereinafter described and represented, or in any other manner substantially the same in principle and operation, whereby the same result is accomplished.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top or plan View; Fig. 2, a longitudinal sec tion; Figs. 3 and 4, end views.

A A are grooved iron or steel rollers revolving in the direction of the arrows. These are the first set, which receive the flax, and are the largestsay about six inches in diameter and largest grooved. These crush or break the flax, and the second, third, and fourth set of rollers, 13 B 13, each set of which revolve at an increased speed, draw and separate the fibers from the woody substance, the woody substance falling down between the rollers and the fibers passing into the winding motion.

In the accompanying drawings four sets of rollers are represented; but it is obvious that any number can bev used; but an important feature is in having each succeeding set of rollers after the first to revolve at an increased speed, so that one set is drawing the flax before it is relieved by the other set, whereby the fibers are separated from the woodysubstance, and nothing but the fibers of the flax is left; The uprights or plumber blocks, in

which the grooved rollers have their bearings,

slide in a dovetailed groove on the bed or platform of the machine, for the purpose of adjusting the rollers to any desired distance apart, so as to vary the length of the fiber as desired. The rollers may be grooved spirally, or in various ways which would produce the same result; but as the principle would be the same we deem it unnecessary to describe other arrangements we have contemplated.

Operation: The machine is fed with flax at the rollers A A, whichis taken up by the second, third, and fourth set of rollers, each set revolving faster than the other, which draft stretches and separates the fibers from the woody substance, preventing nearly all waste, so that that part which is called tow, and usually thrown away, is in this case made available and proved to be the best part of the flax.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The art or method of separating the fibers of flax, hemp, &c., from the boon and reducing them to suitable length of staple to be used on cotton, woolen, and other machinery by the use of combined sets of grooved and graduated rollers or their equivalents, operating in the manner and for the purpose herein fully set forth and represented.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names before two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES S- TREAT. STEPHEN RANDALL.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. It. WEsr, THOS. DONOHO. 

